“I was quite clear about what I want to change at this football club - the mentality, the level of professionalism, the no excuses," Rudan told the press.

"That’s what we’re about this year. We’re going to be taken seriously. Too often in the last few years people have spoken about this football club, where are they going to finish? Down the bottom somewhere. Never in the top six. Not this year.

"And if you want to take us as easy beats or a team that you can dismiss, good luck. Please do it."

The post of Wellington Phoenix coach has been something of a poisoned chalice since Ernie Merrick's departure in December 2016.

Wellington were rock-bottom at the time but finished in seventh as a result of the tinkering on display by the Phoenix co-coaches, who ensured the club were looking stoically to the future by the end of the campaign.